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Sukkot

Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah

Each year we enter the physical space of the Sukkah with joy and excitement for the holiday.

On This Page:

Service Times | Sukkot Events | Food Delivery | About Shemini Atzeret | About Simchat Torah

Service Times

Erev Sukkot, Wednesday, October 16
6:15pm Erev Sukkot Service
6:10pm Candle Lighting

Sukkot Day 1, Thursday, October 17
9:30am Sukkot Service
10:00am Youth Services
7:15pm Ma’ariv
7:07pm Candle Lighting

Sukkot Day 2, Friday, October 18
9:30am Sukkot Service
6:15pm Ma’ariv
6:07pm Candle Lighting

Hoshana Rabah, Wednesday, October 23
8:00am  Service 

Erev Shemini Atzeret, Wednesday, October 23
6:15pm Erev Shemini Atzeret Service
6:00pm Candle Lighting

Shemini Atzeret, Thursday, October 24
9:30am Shemini Atzeret Service (includes Yizkor)
6:58pm Candle Lighting
7:15pm Erev Simchat Torah Service and Hakafot

Simchat Torah, Friday, October 25
9:30am Simchat Torah Service and Hakafot
6:15pm Ma’ariv
5:58pm Candle Lighting

All services in the sanctuary will be available via livestream at olamtikvah.org/livestream

Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah Events

Men’s Club Snacks, Beer and Trivia in the Sukkah, Saturday, October 19, 7:30pm. Join Men's Club for a fun night of snacks, craft beer, and trivia in the OT sukkah! Click here to register.

OT Sukkah Hop, Sunday, October 20, 4:00-6:00pm. We’re hopping around town at sukkot across the community, with everyone wrapping their afternoon back at the OT sukkah for an ice cream dessert! Click here to register. Please register by October 14.

Kadima Limo Sukkah Hop, Sunday, October 20, 4:00-6:00pm. Ride in style with Kadima (5th-7th grades) as we put our own twist on the Olam Tikvah sukkah hop! Click here to register.

USY Limo Sukkah Hop, Sunday, October 20, 6:00-8:00pm. Our USYers (8th-12th graders) are jumping into the limo to visit sukkot around town in style! Click here to register.

Hazak Lunch in the OT Sukkah, October 22, 12:00pm. Celebrate Sukkot with Hazak in the OT sukkah. Click here to register.

First Mishnah Study of 5785 with Rabbi Kalender, Wednesday, October 23, 9:15am in the OT Sukkah.

Dance with Torah! Celebrate Simchat Torah with dancing, singing, and aliyot for all on the evening of Thursday, October 24 and the morning of Friday, October 24.

Shemini Atzeret

Celebrate Shemini Atzeret  on Thursday, October 24.

Shemini Atzeret is both a holiday unto itself and the eighth day of Sukkot. As a nod to both aspects, it is customary to eat meals in the sukkah on Shemini Atzeret (Friday night and Saturday), but not to recite the blessing for dwelling in the sukkah.

The Shemini Atzeret service will include Hallel, Yizkor and Geshem.

Hallel is a collection of Psalms recited on holidays and on Rosh Chodesh before the Torah service. It expresses our gratitude and joy for divine providence. The melody is truly joyful and we look forward to singing it as we end the fall holiday season.

We have the opportunity once more to recite Yizkor in remembrance of those who are no longer with us. Remember to light a yahrtzeit candle before the holiday begins on Friday evening. Yizkor is on Saturday morning following the Torah service.

Shemini Atzeret marks the beginning of the rainy season, which we note by adding mashiv ha-ruach u'morid ha-gashem (You cause the wind to blow and the rain to fall) to Musaf. On this day, we also sing Geshem, the prayer for rain, following the Yizkor service. This moving and beautiful prayer recalls the many ways that water is central to our lives and to our history.

Simchat Torah

Celebrate Simchat Torah on Thursday night and Friday morning, October 24-25.

On Simchat Torah ("Rejoicing with the Torah"), we celebrate reaching the end of the Torah and starting anew right away. Simchat Torah marks the end of our annual reading of the Torah with the final parasha of Devarim, and then we begin again immediately with Bereishit. It is a joyous holiday that celebrates our love of Torah.

The Simchat Torah evening service on Saturday, October 7, brings us together in hakafot (dancing with the Torah). Weather permitting, we hold this service outside in the courtyard. Traditionally, children join the hakafot waving homemade flags to help create a parade-like atmosphere. You can make your own at home (see instructions here), or print this downloadable version. Make our hakafot festive and fun with your own flag to wave!

The Simchat Torah morning service includes more hakafot and flags, and a recitation of Hallel, expressing our gratitude and joy for divine providence, as well as special honors for members of our community who represent our past and our future. Simchat Torah is the only time of year that everyone, even those who are not yet Bar or Bat Mitzvah, is eligible for an aliyah. At Olam Tikvah, we celebrate with Aliyot for All.

Fri, May 23 2025 25 Iyyar 5785